Vocabulary Flashcards
To memorise vocab
Abiotic
non-living factors that impact an ecosystem
Algal bloom
fast growth of microorganisms (typically algae) in a body of water
Angiosperms
plants that flower and produce seeds, surrounded by a protective fruit
Animalia
multicellular eukaryotes that live all over the planet and consume food
Apex predator
an animal at the top of a food chain or web that has no natural predators
Archaea
unicellular prokaryotes that live in volcanic ash
Autotroph
organisms that absorb light energy from the Sun to make its own energy. AKA producer
Backbone
a series of vertebrae, supporting the body + protecting spinal cord
Bilateral
involving or affecting to parties or sides
Binomial
name with 2 terms, including genus and species
Biodiverse
has wide variety of organisms within ecosystem
Biotic
living factors that impact an ecosystem
Body Symmetry
balanced arrangement of body parts in an organism
Branching Key
a tree-like key with each branch containing identification
Carnivore
an organism that only consumes meat
Characteristics
typical features or qualities; such as size, shape + colour
Circular Key
a key based on a circle, with the identified organism found along the outer edge
Circulatory system
a network that transports blood, nutrients, gases, and waste throughout the body
Classification
the process of categorising or grouping things together
Competition
a relationship between organisms where one is harmed when both are trying to use the same resource
Compound eyes
a type of eye in insects and some crustaceans, allowing them to see movement + view multiple directions at once
Conservation
protecting something for future generations
Deforestation
removal of trees/forests from an area
Dichotomous
has only two options at each stage
Ecosystem
environment where living + non-living factors interact
Eubacteria
unicellular prokaryotes that live in dust
Eutrophication
increase in amount of nutrients in a body of water causing rapid growth of plant and/or microbial organisms
Exoskeleton
a hard outer covering which supports + protects certain animals: insects + crustaceans
Extinction
the process of a species dying out as it has no more living members
Food chain
pathway showing flow of energy through feeding relationships
Food web
diagram showing multiple feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Fungi
multicellular eukaryotes that have cell walls and are heterotrophic
Gymnosperms
plants that do not flower, instead produce seeds on structures such as cones
Herbivore
an organism that only consumes plants
Heterotroph
organisms that consume parts of other organisms (living or dead) as food. AKA consumer
Identified
discovered by a scientist
Invertebrates
animals without a backbone
Key
A series of statements used to identify living or non-living things
Keystone species
species that is integral to an ecosystem’s health
Living
satisfies the seven criterias of life
Microorganisms
organisms that require a microscope to see - AKA microbes
Microscope
an instrument used to view very small objects
Monoculture
growth of a single type of plant in a given area
Omnivore
an organism that consumes both plants + meat
Organisms
individual life forms
Parasitic
an organism that lives on/in a host, benefiting at the host’s expense
Phylum (pl. phyla)
a rank in the classification of organisms, below kingdoms
Plantae
multicellular eukaryotes that have cell walls and are autotrophic
Plantae
multicellular eukaryotes that have cell walls and are autotrophic
Pollination
the transfer of pollen between plants
Polytomous
has more than two options at each stage
Predator
obtains food by killing + consuming another organism
Producer
produces its own food; an autotroph
Protists
unicellular eukaryotes that live in pond water
Radial
extending outwards from a central point
Resources
things in an environment that are needed by an organism to survive
Species
a group of closely related organisms
Spores
tiny units that are able to turn into new individuals on their own
Tabular key
a key represented in a table
Taxonomists
scientists who organise organisms into categories
Taxonomy
the science of classifying and naming organisms
Trophic cascade
addition or removal of an organism
Vertebrates
animals with a backbone
